One of the bright prospects for a medal in the London Games, double trap marksman Sodhi, reached yet another milestone in his decorated career, as he was ranked number one in the world.

The irrepressible Sodhi also clinched the yellow metal in the World Cup finals in the United Arab Emirates for the second straight time.

Conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the highest sporting honour in the country, Gagan spent a lot of time fine-tuning his craft with the hope that it will take him to the pinnacle in another seven months' time. Gagan, the first Indian to qualify for the 2012 Games, will participate in three events in London -- 10m Air Rifle, 50m Rifle Prone and 50m Rifle 3 Position -- and the affable Hyderabad-based shooter feels this will maximise his chances of realising his Olympic dream.

"It (three events) gives me more chances to win medals and I feel I am a decent multi-event shooter. I hope it would be third time lucky for me," he says.

A multiple Commonwealth Games gold medallist and holder of numerous world records, London will be Gagan's third shot at the Olympics after Athens and Beijing.

Recommended for for the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award, by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the country's only individual Olympic gold medallist, Bindra, qualified as he won one of the three quota places on offer in the men's air rifle in the World Cup in Munich.

According to Bindra, Beijing is history and he is now focused on London.

"London is a new day, I can't transfer my past. I don't remember the past...It is over. I want to win at the Olympics, as simple as that," he had said not long ago.

Rajput got a quota place in 50m rifle – 3 positions after a score of 1176 points at the World Championships in Changwon where MQS (Minimum Qualification Score) was 1135.

Vijay Kumar reserved his berth in 25m rapid fire pistol event after scoring 584 points to better MQS of 560 in the World Championships in Fort Benning, where Sarnobat in women's 25m pistol event and Annu Raj Singh in women's 10m air pistol event also reserved their Olympic berths.